, 1887-07-23
A WHALES MOUTH.
domains Modern Rival Tells His
Remarkable Story.
Caught in the laws of a Great
Ocean Monster,
But Still Escaping to Tell the Tale
p of Adventure.

A representative Of The LEADER last
evening had the pleasure of meeting
Capt. Noah Wood, owner of the New
Bedford, Mass, whaling vessel Three
Kings. The captain is a noted character
in his section and has figured as the hero
in many a sensational yarn published in
the large New York dailies. He has
been chased and robbed by pirates, was
a captive in China for three years, was
ship-wrecked at least ten times and last,
but most important of all, was once actual
ly swallowed by a whale, ala Jonah, who,
it may be well to remark, is a biblical
character.
1t was of this latter incident that the
reporter was most anxious TO hear, and
after considerable persuasion the weather
beaten tar told a story something like
this:
I'VE left port in January, expecting to
reach the whaling grounds two months
later, but had the worst luck that a crew
ever encountered. Before the boat was
out twenty-tour hours she sprung a leak
and we had to return and have the old
tub repaired, and the tenth day from
home we were pursued by some Williams
who carried a black flag under the stars
and stripes. Thanks to a couple OF
twelve pound canons on board, we were
enabled to drive them off. Then my
first mate fell overheard and there wasn't
a man in the crew fit to fill his position,
and | had to perform double duties dur
ing the voyage.
"But that wasn't all. | honestly believe
that we were bewitched for a time. One
evening a sailor whistled. OF course you
know that is an evil omen, and the next
day four of the crew were stricken with
small pox and we didn't get rid of the
disease for forty days. Finally our bad luck
left us and we reached fishing grounds
where the lookout was kept busy shouting
There she blows and it began to look as
though every mothers son Of us would
become rich, SO rapidly were the barrels
filled.
"On one ofthe fortunate fishing days my
famous adventure occurred. | was stand
ing in the bow of a four cared boat with
a ten pound harpoon in my hand waiting
the appearance OF an enormous fish that
had been sighted. We didn't have long
to wait, for a monster whale rose a few
feet in front Of the boat and made direct
ly toward us. l just had time to place
the spear in what L considered a vital por.
ton of his body when he struck the boat
with his projecting lower jaw. and in less
time than it takes to relate the occurrence
| was in his mouth and being, as | sup
posed crunched to death by his sharp teeth.
1t was then that received the terrible scars
you observe on my face and had a leg and
arm fractured"
Il suppose every act of your life flashed
through your mind as you lay in that
whales mouth, captain" remarked the
reporter inquiringly.
well, [ was too much surprised to
think much at first, but as soon as l came
to my senses l remembered with regret
that | had brutally whipped a man with
a rope-end that very day, and had roundly
cursed several sailors for a trivial %offense.
Then | thought of my wife and children
1000 miles away, and don't know but
what l cried a little. l had just begun
specializing on how many barrels of oil
my captor would yield when he rose to
the surface and blew me out very much
as a Chinaman elects water from his
mouth In sprinkling clothes. [ was
picked up by the men and my broken
limbs set by the ships surgeon, and in
two weeks | was able to be about, but
have never recovered from the shock. |
quit the ocean Immediately Upon our ar
rival home, and though l still W boats
seldom visit them.
"The Three Kings is still in active ser
vice and has made a great deal OF money
for me in return for carrying me on that
Inflated voyage. This country reminds
me Of the sea, the rolling prairie looks like
what we call a 'choppy sea- | believe
I'll stop here on my return from Califor-
MIA, There are not many trees here and
when I'm home I'm always fearful lest
the trees fall upon me when the wind
blows"
The captain is immensely wealthy and
would make a good citizen did he con-
clude to locate in Cheyenne.
Nellie and the Mormon Bishop.